Ari was in a mood. She had been by the guildhall that morning; by the third person who asked her whether she was scoping out the Fighters' Guild, she had been ready to scream. Honestly, why couldn't she have personal relationships like a normal person? Aspel's nobility was bad enough; now she was being accused of playing at politics? Really, it was like none of these people knew her at all.
The only thing that had saved this day from being entirely miserably was - finally the acquisition of her new mandolin. It had taken a bit longer than anticipated, but today the instrument maker had contacted her to pick it up. The familiar weight of it against her back - as opposed to the cumbersome lute - did quite a lot to improve her temper, and she was even considering making a stop by the nearby bakery before heading home when she spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
It had to be him. He looked ragged, but surely it was the mage boy from the docks - with his strange, theatrical magic. The one about whom she had been worrying quite a lot - and Aspel too, if she had to wager a guess.
Here. And, it seemed, quite alone.
It was a split-second decision to approach him, offer him her most charming smile. "Liyal, isn't it? We met at the docks a few weeks back." And he had never offered his name, but with the way he was looking at her - she ran a hand over her hair, tossed it back - she didn't think he would realize. "It's good to see you. May I sit with you?"